Debates of March 6th, 2013

This is page numbers 2389 – 2428 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was community.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Department Of Justice Human Resources Plan For The Future
Long John Jamboree, March 14-17, 2013
Small Scale Foods Program Under Growing Forward Agreement
Information And Privacy Legislation For Municipal Government
Discretionary Leave For Teachers Coaching Community Sports
NWT Electoral Boundaries Commission
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway
Protected Areas Strategy For The Edehzhie
Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Trip
Minister’s Forum On Addictions And Community Wellness
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Mackenzie Valley Winter Road
Policy Regulating Government Social Media Sites
Leave For Teachers Coaching Community Sports
Development Of Youth Symposium
Growing Forward 2 Agreement And Small Scale Foods Program
Economic Benefits Of Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Highway
Minister’s Forum On Addictions And Community Wellness
Skills Canada NWT And Jobs For Youth
Training Activities In The Sahtu
Tlicho Winter Road To Fortune Minerals Site
Written Question 7-17(4): Distribution Of GNWT Jobs
Bill 2: An Act To Amend The Territorial Parks Act
Tabled Document 39-17(4): GNWT Positions To Population Ratio As At December 31, 2012
Tabled Document 40-17(4): GNWT Response To Committee Report 6-17(3), Report On Hydraulic Fracturing Study Tour: Toward A Policy Framework For Hydraulic Fracturing In The Northwest Territories
Appointment Of Acting Clerk Of The Legislative Assembly
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Committee agreed?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you would please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Minister Abernethy, please introduce your witnesses to the House, please.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my right I have Sylvia Haener, deputy minister of the Department of Justice; and Kim Schofield, who is the director of finance with the Department of Justice.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Members, we will start with general comments on the Department of Justice.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Detail.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Are we agreed that we have concluded general comments?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

General comments are concluded. We will defer page 9-7 and go to page 9-8. Justice, information item, infrastructure investment summary, any questions?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Page 9-9, Justice, information item, revenue summary. Mr. Bromley.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. I notice we are a half a million down for youth justice services. I wonder if the Minister could tell me what that’s about.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Thanks, Mr. Bromley. Minister Abernethy.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

That reduction is a result of a decrease in funding provided by the federal government in that particular program area.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

What are we doing about it? Is this just a, sort of, ephemeral program? It seems like a basic program that we want to maintain. Do we have any information? Why is it declining?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

This reduction is across Canada. It’s affecting all jurisdictions. For the specific impact on our programming and what we’re doing here in the Government of the Northwest Territories, I’ll go to Ms. Schofield.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Ms. Schofield.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Schofield

Thank you, Madam Chair. There has been no direct impact on the programs provided for youth justice services. It’s just a reduction in revenue. So the impact is just to the government as a whole.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Ms. Schofield. Mr. Bromley.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I recognize magic when I see it. I have no further questions.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. We are on page 9-9, Justice, information item, revenue summary.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Page 9-10, Justice, information item, active position summary.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Page 9-13, Justice, activity summary, services to government, operations expenditure summary, $10.925 million.